‘If you think about it, you’re going to have problems’: Virgil van Dijk isn’t being hit with an injury after missing Euro 2020 with a ligament damage… but wants people not to ‘worry’ or ‘focus’ his fitness in the run-up to the World Cup
- Virgil van Dijk fears no injury after missing Euro 2020 with Holland
- The Liverpool centre-back has been sidelined for 10 months with a ligament injury
- Van Dijk spoke in Holland’s camp and urged people to stop worrying
Virgil van Dijk refuses to focus on not getting injured ahead of this winter’s World Cup despite missing Euro 2020, Holland’s last major tournament.
The Liverpool centre-back was sidelined for 10 months with knee ligament damage after a tackle from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in a Merseyside derby.
That serious injury ended his hopes of qualifying for Euro 2020, but Van Dijk believes worry about injuries means he “will struggle”.
Virgil van Dijk (centre) refuses to focus too much on fitness ahead of the World Cup
He spent 10 months with ligament damage to miss Euro 2020 after being challenged in a Merseyside derby by Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
“I can only speak for myself and I wouldn’t worry,” Van Dijk told reporters ahead of the Nations League games against Poland and Belgium.
“I want to go, but being ready, in my opinion, doesn’t mean focusing on hopefully not getting injured, just keeping playing, getting fit, staying fit and having a good moment.”
He added: “If you think about it (injuring yourself), I think you’re going to have problems.
“It’s just game by game and that includes international football. For me it’s two games against Poland and Belgium and then Brighton, so that will be the focus. I’m not focused on what happens in November.”
The Dutch centre-back missed Euro 2020 but isn’t worried about a potential replay for Qatar
Looking refreshed after missing Euro 2020, Van Dijk put in another dominant season in 2021-22 as Liverpool came within a hair’s breadth of scoring a famous quadruple.
This season has been a much tougher start for Van Dijk and the Reds but despite back-to-back defeats, the Dutchman is unwilling to sound the alarm.
He also refuses to blame the indifferent form of the World Cup that is occupying players’ minds.
“I can assure you that’s definitely not the case,” he continued.
He is now in good spirits with Holland but has urged fans not to focus on his fitness
“That’s not why we’re in this situation. I understand that because of the start we’ve had, everyone is looking for “why?”. because the difference (from last season) is too big, but I can assure you that this is definitely not one of the reasons.
“You’re focused on the game at the time and that’s definitely what we’re doing.”
Holland meets Poland in Warsaw on September 22 before taking on Belgium three days later in Amsterdam.
They are currently at the top of their Nations League group with three wins from their first four games.
